Crazy Love

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Crazy Love

PG-13

2007

1h 32m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker Dan Klores examines the strange love affair of Burt Pugach and Linda Riss. Pugach is a successful attorney in 1950s New York when he meets much-younger Riss. The pair date, but Riss breaks off contact with Pugach upon learning his claims of divorce are false. Discovering that Riss was engaged to another man, Pugach hires some men to throw lye in her face, and he serves 14 years in prison for the crime.

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Critics Consensus

Crazy Love's subjects and story are so compelling that they overcome the doc's dry, talking heads format.

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Melissa Anderson

Time Out

As with all banner-head stories, there comes a point when you tire of being screamed at.

Rated: 3/6

Sep 22, 2007

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Manohla Dargis

New York Times

Far too readily tends to play this pathetic story for laughs.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 22, 2007

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Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

A Bronx tale full of jaw-dropping behavior and jaw-dropping hairdos.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 22, 2007

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Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

The best Valentine’s Day movie of all time.

Feb 14, 2025

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Love and fate are funny things. And when on a collision course such as that of Linda and Burt the end result can only be on thing - CRAZY LOVE.

Nov 7, 2019

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Troy Patterson

Spin

Dan Klores shapes their tale into a documentary as arresting as a Weegee crime-scene photo.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 25, 2019

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Sexual References and Mature Thematic Elements!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $300,400.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

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Arizona G

The guy was and is a horrible human (although the movie was released in 2007 so he is likely dead now). He shows no remorse for the horrific crime he orchestrated and acts as if he didn't do anything. Further, he seems incredulous that he would be convicted and sent to prison. He is self absorbed, arrogant and disgusting. He treated his first wife like dirt and didn't care about his disabled daughter. These two didn't have a "crazy" love. They had a very sick, dysfunctional love (if you can even call it love). He was obsessed with her and his plan was for her to be injured and scarred for life so she would depend on him and no other man would want her. Sadly, his plan worked. This movie is not lighthearted or funny. It is sad and depressing. As a footnote, some of the people ("friends") interviewed are racist and misogynistic. And not the least bit apologetic for their comments.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/26/23

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Rick W

Not too much shine factor in this documentary because the subject tended on the shallow side. The abusive man, after blinding his girlfriend for life, talks like nothing happened. And then they get back together after him in prison for 14 years, I am suspecting this couple discovered, not absolute forgiveness, perhaps something more like a lot of money being in the public eye. I could be wrong. This doc is good for one watch simply because of the insane story, but no second watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/04/23

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Audience Member

You can't believe what you're watching, and read abiut what happened to them after the movie. Just incredible.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

this is one of the best documentaries i've ever seen. It's almost hard to believe it actually happened

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

Definitely crazy, love had nothing to do with it though.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Dan Klores

Director

Fisher Stevens

Director

Dan Klores

Writer

Dan Klores

Producer

Fisher Stevens

Producer

Wolfgang Held

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Dan Klores examines the strange love affair of Burt Pugach and Linda Riss. Pugach is a successful attorney in 1950s New York when he meets much-younger Riss. The pair date, but Riss breaks off contact with Pugach upon learning his claims of divorce are false. Discovering that Riss was engaged to another man, Pugach hires some men to throw lye in her face, and he serves 14 years in prison for the crime.

Director: Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens
Producer: Dan Klores, Fisher Stevens
Screenwriter: Dan Klores
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Shoot the Moon Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Sexual References|Mature Thematic Elements)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $300.4K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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